Dallas Debates Drilling, As Drilling Takes Place

DALLAS (AP) – Dallas-owned gas reserves are being produced and marketed while the City Council debates allowing gas drilling on its land.

The bizarre circumstances that led to the production of Dallas gas highlights the complexities of the horizontal drilling that allows operators to extract once out-of-reach oil and gas from dense rock layers.

The Dallas Morning News reports drilling on a site in the Dallas suburb of Irving began in 2008. The well casing ruptured and the driller plugged the well. A second well was drilled, but a nearby landowner threatened to sue, alleging the company was taking gas without a lease. The company changed direction, instead pulling gas from Dallas.

Meanwhile, officials haven’t decided how to go ahead with drilling and construction of a processing plant within city limits.